History

    Victor Hugo was born the youngest of 3 sons in the year 1802 in Besancon, France. His father was in the Napoleonic army and as a child spent much of his time traveling following the campaigns.  His family suffered greatly from poverty, nevertheless Victor did receive an education.
At the age of 2 Victor's education began, he was taught by a former priest, Pere de La Riviere. Later, when Victor was 13 years old, he and his brother Eugene attended a boarding school. There, because of how talented and amusing they were, they became rival leaders of the two camps of the school. In a game between the two sides Victor was struck in the knee and had to spend two weeks in bed. During this time, Victor's love was started for reading and writing poetry. By 1812,  
 
Victor was entering poetry contests. In one contest, his closest rival was his brother, but Victor won the highest honor. By the age of 18 Victor was famous.